China looks to bolster partnership with Vietnam

Beijing (VNA) – China is set on continuously consolidating and developing
the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam, said Wan Gang,
Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He made the
statement when receiving a visiting Vietnamese delegation led by Pham Van
Chuong, deputy head of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in
Bejing on December 9. The Vietnamese delegation visited China to attend the 8th
Vietnam-China people’s forum in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province.

Wan Gang
praised the organisation and outcomes of the forum.

He shared
his impression from a recent visit to Vietnam in November when he had a chance
to witness the strong growth of the country and tour the house of the late
President Ho Chi Minh.

Wan hailed the
contributions made by Ho Chi Minh to his nation and for Vietnam – China
relations, saying Chinese people always have respect for him.

He also
talked about his meeting with Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh on
promoting bilateral scientific cooperation, particularly exchanges between
Vietnamese and Chinese scientists.

He said he
is glad to see Chinese businessmen successfully operating in Vietnam and the
growth of bilateral tourism.

For his part,
Pham Van Chuong stressed his commitment to work with the Chinese side in cementing
the friendship between the two peoples.

Both sides
agreed to promote initiatives and exchange activities that aim to boost mutual
understanding and amity for security and peace in the region and in the world.

The same
day, the Vietnamese delegation was welcomed with a banquet hosted by Li Xiaolin,
President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign
Countries.

Li said she is pleased with upbeat
progress recorded in bilateral ties and regular exchanges between high-ranking
leaders of the two countries.

She appreciated
the contributions of the VUFO to people-to-people exchanges in recent years,
particularly the organisation of an exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh and a
youth exchange festival in conjunction with a visit to Vietnam of Zhang
Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
of China.

She said
she will work closely with the Vietnamese side in organising activities marking
67 years of Vietnam-China ties in January next year.

The 8th
Vietnam-China people’s forum took place from December 5 to 8, with discussion
focusing on 25 years since the normalization of friendship relations as well as
measures to enhance mutual understanding, control disputes at sea and bolster result-oriented cooperation.-VNA